Simple thing but difficult to do?

Hi all.

It has been a few weeks since my last update.
How have you been?

A few weeks ago I encountered a something strange:

At my train station a woman was using the ticketing machine.

The machine clearly shows instructions for choosing the type of ticket, a destination, and inserting the required fare.

It is so simple.

But I watched as she tried once, twice, three times unsuccessfully, all the while mumbling to herself, “what is wrong with this machine?!”

Watching her, I could tell that she wasn’t even trying to read the instructions.

Such a simple process was so irritating for her because she would not follow the correct steps.

Wanting to save her anymore frustration, I finally stepped in and showed the woman how to purchase her fare, after which she turned away from me, grunting “hrmm!”


And, without even a single word, she walked away. Gone, just like that!

We Japanese are often regarded as very polite people.

It is one of the strongest impressions we make on visitors from overseas and one of the qualities of which I am most proud to associate with my own country.

But today I encountered a (hopefully!) rare exception to this ideal.

This mature woman had trouble with something so simple and then did not even make the slightest effort to show gratitude to a fellow human being when she was assisted.


Perhaps this example is only small and relatively insignificant.

But I was quite shocked and it got me thinking…

Does it mean something?


Yes, I think it does.


This kind of occurrence appears to be happening more and more. The kindness that I had always come to expect from those around me appears to be slipping away, bit by bit.

It seems to me to be a sign of slowly collapsing Japanese values, perhaps global values also.

Maybe these changes are the result of life’s daily pressures, global influences or even popular media; what do you think?

I strongly believe that it is our good will and kind manners to those around us that help to form the healthy foundation for our community.

Without a collective agreement to respect and consider our fellow citizens we jeopardize this stability.

Common courtesy, manners and kindness should be as important to us now as they ever were.

So, let’s keep these values as vital elements in our daily actions.

How can we do this?

Well, this is what I have decided to do:

Show more affection, more gratitude and more appreciation.

It’s that simple!

Thank you for taking the time to read my blogs.

And thanks for your comments and feedback also.

It means a lot to me to hear about the issues that are important to you.

Talk to you soon.


Teppei